Folder and cutter attachment for sewing machines



July 25, 1944. PO E 2,354,476

I FOLD-ER AND CUT'IIER ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Fi'l ed Jan. 29,.1942 v INVENTOR JES E V. P0045 BY ATTORNE;

Patented July 25, 1944 l UNITED? STATES FOLDERANDl CUTTER'ATTACHMENTE FOR SEWING Macn NEs I V Jesse V. Poole, Abingto Puritan Mass, a company of 11, Mass, assignor to The j Manufacturing Company, Boston,

Massachusetts Application January 29,1942, Serial No. 428,668

12- Claims.

This invention relates to attachments used on sewing machines for folding a strip upon the edge portion of a workpiece in the operation of stitching the strip tothe workpiece, in forming a binding or facing on the edge of the workpiece. More particularly, the invention relates to an attachment of the character described having means comprising a cutter blade adapted to be passed transversely of the folder for cutting or severing the strip within the folder informing a predetermined finish on the end of the strip attached to the workpiece. of the invention will be best understood from the following description and annexed drawing in which certain embodimentsof the invention are disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views; and inwhich: Fig. l is a plan View of the, attachment indicating the use thereof and with part of the construction broken away. Fig. 2is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1 showing the normal position of the cutter blade in full lines and the operative position of the blade in dotted lines, and

Fig. 3 is a view looking in the direction-of the arrow 3 of Fig. 1 showing the workpiece illus-' trated in Fig. 1 in section.

-In the production of soles for slippers and similar footwear, it has been the custom to bind or finish the edges of thesoles with a tape automatically folded over peripheral edges of the sole in the operation of stitching the samein position. In reaching an approximate end .to .be formed on this facing strip, the same has been removed from the folder and cut and due tothe awkwardness in the procedure, irregular and jagged ends were formed on the strip. This procedure also resulted in a material loss in the strip facing material employed. It is the object of my invention to overcome the objectionable features to sewing machine attachments of the. class described by providing means for cutting the binding or finishing strip while supported in the folder so that the folder may continue in the performance of its operation of guiding the strip onto the edge of the workpiece in continuing the stitching operation and also informing a neat and finished end on said strip. In this way, no loss of the finishing stripis experienced; and a moreperfect application of the material to the sole is made possible and the entire operation is simplified to such'a degree as to materially increase the'rate of production.

-,In.the accompanying drawing, 1. have illus- The novel features v trated one adpation of my invention in which a more or less conventional form of folder is generally indicated by the reference 10. The folder has an admission end ll for receiving a comparatively wide tape I2 used in finishing the peripheral edges of the sole, partially illustrated at l3 in Fig. 1 of the drawing. At I4 is shown the semi-circular portion of the folder, that is to say, that part of-the folder which has a semi-circular channel to give the particular contour to the strip as it'passes through the folder. The-outer end of the folder is bevelled, as seen at l5, and this bevelled portion is channeled, as seen at 16, note Fig. v3, to reversely fold the strip in bringing it right side out upon the peripheral. edge ll of the sole l3.

As seen in Fig. 3 of the drawing, the edge portion I! of the sole asses through the channel I6, in the operation of applyingthe strip I2 upon the outer edge and upper and lower surfaces of the sole preparatory to stitching the same in position, as indicated at I8, through the medium of the needle I9 of a sewing machine, in connection withwhich, the attachment is supported. A long twisted arm .20 having an apertured mounting end 2| is employed to support the foldeririiprop'er position in the machine with respect to the needle l9. Generally speaking, all of the above described construction .is old so and has been in use for accomplishing the result set forth, the particular shape of the folder beingvaried somewhatwto suit binding, facing or finishing strips of variouskinds and classes, as well as different workpieces, in connection with 5 which, the attachment is employed. This attachmentghas been revised and devices have been added thereto -in;providing means for severing the finishing strip. i

In thefirst place, the portion I4 of the folder 40 is provided-with a transverse aperture 22 which extends throu h theientire channeled portion of the device. In. fact, this channel is cut deep enough to form a beveled wall 23 on the back plate 24 of the folder; which extends beyond the 4,5 terminal ends of the channel. By reason of this construction, a cutter knife 25, which is employed, is moved over the beveled wall 23 in insuring complete (severance of the strip or tape l2, in the passage, of, the knife 25 from'the full line 59 position, shown in Fig. 2, to the dotted line position. The knife 25 has a long bevelled cutter edge 26 which moves upwardly through the, aperture or channel22in ashear like action. Thus the 55 firmly supported strip I2 is cutby engagement 32, to one end of a substantially L-shaped bracket 33, the other end portion 34 of the bracket joining the end 33 in a twisted portion 35. The end 34 is bolted or otherwise secured to the arm 20. The folder I is adjustably secured on the arm by screws 36 operating in elongated slots 31 in the arm, in order to properly set the folder in the machine.

Supported on one side of the end portion 34 of the bracket is a guide block 38, channeled, as seen at 39, to guide the plates 28, 30, in their upward movement, and secured to the top of the block 38 is a forwardly and downwardly directed guard housing 40 to protect an operator from engaging the blade 25, the housing having anelongated aperture 4| in its upper surface through which the blade 25 passes. Considering Fig. 2 of the drawing, it will appear that the back edge &2 of the blade bears against the. end 43 of the aperture 4| and is held in this position by a spring 44. This supports the pointed end of the knife in position to enter theaperture 22 forwardly of the beveled surface 23, so as tofreely pass onto this surface and be guided by this'surface in its upward movement.

The lower end of the plate 28 is pivoted, as seen at 45, to the short end 46 of the lever 3|. The long end 41 of this lever forms a handle member by means of which the blade may be moved into operative position by depression of the handle member. However, in some installations and by providing an aperture 48 in the end of the handle member, .an operating link 4.9 connected with a foot treadle or other operating means may be provided to otherwise actuate the cutter blade.

The end 44 of the spring operates in a groove 50' formed between the plates 28 and30, note Fig. 3. The spring 44 is coiled around a pin 5| on the end 46 of the lever and has its other end engaging a screw 52.

A fairly large spring 53 has one: end coupled to-a screw 54 on the end 45 of the lever, and the other end of the spring is secured to the apertured end 55 of a downwardly directed rod 56 supported from the end 33 of the bracket by screws 51. On the rod 56 is secured an outwardly projecting stop 58, which is disposed in alinement with the end 46 of the lever to limit downward movement of the knife or cutter blade 25 and. to support this blade substantially in the full line position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

It will be understood that the spring 53 supports the cutter 25 in the inoperative or full line position with the knife entirely out of the channel of the folder, thus allowing a free passage of the ribbon or strip I2 through the folder in the operation of stitching or otherwise applying the strip to a workpiece. When the operator finds it necessary to sever the strip in terminating the end thereof on the workpiece, the sewing machine is momentarily stopped, the knife 25 actuated to pass the same through the aperture 22 and then the knife is automatically returned to inoperative position and the operation of the machine continues. To apply the strip to the next successive workpiece, the strip is simply advanced through the folder which may be accomplished by engaging the strip through the aperture 59, provided in the surface of the end portion H of the folder to engage the portion of the strip exposed through said aperture. When the strip is sufficiently projected through the beveled end l5 of the folder, a new workpiece is inserted and the operation is repeated.

It will, of course, be understood that my invention is not limited to the specific arrangement of cutter blade and folder, herein shown, as in some instances and uses the blade may pass through the folder in different angular positions in forming angularly cut ends on the tape employed. It will also be understood that my invention is applicable for use in cutting or trimming the ends of bindings, tapes, finishing tapes and the like as applied to workpieces of any type or kind.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1, A workpiece cutting attachment for sewing machines, comprising a substantially L-shaped bracket, a workpiece guide adjustably supported on one end portion of the bracket, said guide having a transverse opening completely exposing the workpiece a lever pivotally mounted on the other end portion of said bracket, a cutter pivotally supported on one end of the lever, means on the bracket for guiding the cutter in a movement transversely through the opening of said workpiece guide in severing a workpiece therein, and a spring for normally supporting the cutter in spaced relation to said guide.

2. A workpiece cutting attachment for sewing machines, comprising a substantially L-shaped bracket, a workpiece guide adjustably supported on one end portion of the bracket, said guide having a transverse opening completely exposing the workpiece, a lever pivotally mounted on the other end portion of said bracket, a cutter pivotally supported on one end of the lever, means on the bracket for guiding the cutter in a movement transversely through the opening of said workpiece'guide in severing a workpiece therein,

a spring for normally supporting the cutter in' spaced relation to said guide, means limiting swingingmovement of the cutter in one direction, and tensional means engaging the cutter to support the same in engagement with said limiting means.

3. A workpiece cutting attachment for sewing machines, comprising a substantially L- shaped bracket, a workpiece guide adjustably supported on one end portion of the bracket, said guide having a transverse opening completely,

exposing the workpiece, a lever pivotally mounted on the other end portion of said bracket, a cutter pivotally supported on one end of the lever, means on the bracket for guiding the cutter in a movement transversely through the opening of said workpiece guide in severing a workpiece therein, a spring for normally supporting the.

cutter in spaced relation to said guide, means limiting swinging movement of the cutter. in one direction, tensional means engaging thev cutterto' support thesamein engagement with said limiting means, and said workpieceguide having. means engaging the cutter-to swing the cutter on its pivot in the passage of the cutter through said guide. i

4. A workpiece cutting attachment for sewing machines, comprising a substantially L-shaped zgs 547 476 I =3 bracket, a workpiece' guide adjustably supported on one end portion of the bracket, said guidehave .supported on one end of the lever, means on the bracket for guiding the cutter in a movement transversely through the opening of said workpiece guide in severing a workpiece therein, a

spring for normally supporting" the cutter in spaced relation to said guide, means limiting swinging movement of the cutter in one direction, tensional means engaging the cutter to support the same in engagetment with said limiting means, said workpiece guide having means engaging the cutter to swing the cutter on its pivot in the passage of the cutter through said guide, means on the bracket limiting movement of the lever in one direction, and a guard for said cutter.

5. In attachments of the class described, a workpiece cutting device comprising a bracket, a lever pivoted to the bracket, one end of the lever forming the operative end, a cutter blade holder swingably supported on the other end of said lever, a cutter blade adjustably supported on the holder a stop limiting movement of the lever in one direction, tensional means supporting the lever in engagement with the stop and for moving the lever in the direction of the stop, means comprising a spring on said lever and engaging said holder for guiding said cutter blade holder and controlling directional swinging movement of the blade on said lever, a workpiece guide element on said bracket adjacent the free end portion of said cutter blade, and said element having a passage extending transversely therethrough for receiving the blade in severing a workpiece supported in said element.

6. A sewing machine attachment comprising a strip reversing binder device, said device having a semi-circular channel portion, said channel portion only of the device intermediate its ends having a transverse passage exposing the entire cross section of the strip within said passage, a fiat blade having a diagonal and bevelled cutter edge at one end, means for supporting the blade with said edge adjacent and in alinement with said passage, means for moving the blade in one direction through the passage in moving said cutter edge across the entire channel portion to sever the strip arranged in said channel portion, means for moving the blade in the opposite direction, means forming a pivotal'mounting for said blade, and said device having a bevelled surface exposed to said passage, for swinging the blade on its pivot in moving the same over said surface as the blade moves through said passage.

7. A sewing machine attachment comprising a strip reversing binder device, said device having a semi-circular channel portion, said channel portion only of the deviceintermediate its ends having a transverse passage exposing the entire cross section of the stripwithin said passage, a flat blade having a diagonal and bevelled :cutter edge at one end, means for supporting the blade with said edge adjacent and in alinement with said passage, means for moving the blade in one direction through the passage in moving said cutter edge across the entire channel portion to sever the strip arranged in said channel portion, means for moving the blade in the opposite direction, means forming a pivotal mounting for said blade, said device having a bevelled surface exposed to said passage, for swinging the blade on its pivot in moving the same over said surface asthe' blade moves' thriough'said passagegand tensional means supporting: the blade in engage;-

ment with saidsur'face; '8. A cutter attachment for severing'workpiec'es guided to the stitching mechanism of asewing machine, said: attachment' comprising a guide member having. a semi-circular channel portion through; which aworkpiece passes inxpartially folded condition, said member having azpassage completely transversing' the channel portion only thereof intermediate its ends, a pivotally supportied and operated :cutter normally arranged in alinement with said passage and spaced from the ichannei of said member to provide free ,feed of the workpiece through said-"channel, means'ior actuating said cutter to move through said p'as v sage, and means on said member engaged by said cutter to swing said cutter on its pivot in its movement in severing that part of the folded workpiece exposed in said passage.

9. A cutter attachment for severing workpieces guided to the stitching mechanism of a sewing machine, said attachment comprising a guide member having a semi-circular channel portion through which a workpiece passes in apartially folded condition, said member having a passage completely transversing the channel portion only thereof intermediate its ends, a pivotally supported and operated cutter normally arranged in alinement with said passage and spaced from. the channel of said member to provide free feed of the workpiece through said channel, means for actuating said cutter to move through said passage, means on said member engaged by said cutter to swing said cutter on its pivot in its movement in severing that part of the folded workpiece exposed in said passage, said cutter actuating means comprising a lever, means pivotally supporting the cutter to one end of said lever, and tensional means for moving the cutter into and for supporting the same in normal position.

10. A cutter attachment for severing workpieces guided to the stitching mechanism of a sewing machine, said attachment comprising a guide member having a semi-circular channel portion through which a workpiece passes in partially folded condition, said member having a passage completely transversing the channel portion only thereof intermediate its ends, a pivotally supported and operated cutter normally arranged in alinement with said passage and spaced from the channel of said member to provide free feed of the workpiece through said channel, means for actuating said cutter to move through said passage, means on said member engaged by said cutter to swing said cutter on its pivot in its movement in severing that part of the folded workpiece exposed in said passage, said cutter actuating means comprising a lever, means pivotally supporting the cutter to one end of said lever, tensional means for moving the cutter into and for supporting the same in normal position, and other tensional means on the lever and engaging said cutter supporting means in controlling swinging movement of the cutter.

11. The combination with a strip folding attachment for sewing machines having a passage completely transversing the strip guiding channel of the attachment, of a substantially L-shaped bracket formed by angularly extending arms, said attachment being supported on' one arm of the bracket, a lever pivoted to the other of said arms, supporting cutter pivotally supported'on one end of the lever, means for guiding the cutter to move into th passage of said attachment, tensional means coupled with said end of the lever to support the cutter out of alinement' with the strip guiding channel of the attachment, means coupled with the other end of the lever for moving the cutter through said passage against the action of saidspring in cutting a strip supported in the attachment, and means on the attachment imparting controlled swinging movement to the cutter during the cutting operation thereof.

12. The combination with a strip folding attachment; for sewing machines having a passage completely transversing the strip guiding channel of the attachment, of a substantially L-shaped bracket formed by angularly extending arms, said attachment being supported on one arm of the bracket, a lever pivoted to the other of said arms, supporting a cutter pivotally supported on one end of the lever, means for guiding the cutter to move into the passage of said attachment, tensional means coupled with said end of the lever to support the cutter out of a-linement with the strip guiding channel of the attachment, means coupled with the other end of the lever for moving the cutter through said passage against the action of said spring in cutting a strip supported in the attachment, means on the attachment imparting controlled swinging movement to the cutter during the cutting operation thereof, and said last named means comprising a spring mounted on the first named end of said lever and engaging the cutter supporting means.

, JESSE V. POOLE. 

